How to Move a Large Cornus Kousa Dogwood

by Jessica Westover

Kousa dogwoods produce flowers in late spring or early summer.

Cornus kousa, also known as kousa dogwood and Japanese dogwood, is a deciduous tree prized for its large white blooms. The 3-inch petals of these flowers are actually bracts or modified leaves with the true flower located in the center. Kousa dogwoods reach mature heights of 20 feet with equal spreads, making them excellent ornamental trees for the landscape. Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 5 through 8, they require full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Transplant the tree during its winter dormancy, between late fall, after all leaves have dropped, and very early spring prior to leaf growth.

1

Measure the diameter of the kousa dogwood's trunk 6 inches above ground. Calculate the needed diameter of the root ball by multiplying 12 inches for every 1 inch of trunk diameter. For example, if the trunk's diameter is 4 inches then the tree requires a root ball with a 48-inch diameter.

2

Root prune the dogwood 6 to 12 months before transplanting. Prune the roots only before the buds produce leaves in the spring or just after all leaves are gone in the fall. Push the spade of a shovel straight into the ground at a point along the perimeter of the calculated root ball. Root prune to a depth equal to two-thirds to three-quarters of the root ball's diameter. Continue inserting the shovel in a circle around the tree, creating a narrow trench around the entire root ball perimeter. Push the spade of the shovel through any roots you encounter to sever them. Do not dig inward at an angle, but dig as straight down as possible to avoid injuring the central taproot of the tree. Only prune around the sides of the root ball, leaving the bottom of the root ball undisturbed.

3

Water the tree thoroughly with a garden hose. Do not disturb the tree until time for transplanting, except to provide supplemental water during periods of little to no rainfall.

4

Water the ground around the tree deeply 2 to 3 days before transplanting to soften the soil for digging.

5

Dig a new hole for the dogwood in an area that receives full sun to partial shade and has well-drained soil. Dig the hole twice as wide and equal in depth to the size of the root ball.

6

Dig around the entire perimeter of the root ball in the same area as before, digging outward 8 to 12 inches to create a trench around the root ball. Dig downward until the trench is two-thirds to three-quarters as deep as the root ball's diameter. Push the spade through any growing roots to sever them while digging.

7

Push the spade along the bottom of the trench into the bottom of the root ball. Undercut the root ball by digging underneath it a few inches at a time, circling around the perimeter as you dig. Dig down at a 45 degree angle to preserve as much of the taproot as possible. Rock the root ball gently back and forth as you dig to loosen and uproot the taproot. Continue this until the root ball is free from the ground.

8

Recruit assistance when lifting the tree from the ground. Never try to lift the root ball by yourself. Hire a professional or rent mechanical equipment for help moving extremely large trees. Lift the tree from the ground and place it on top of a square of burlap or a tarp. Wrap the material around the root ball and tie it in place with string or twine to protect the roots while the tree is being moved.

9

Place the dogwood by the side of the new hole. Cut the ties holding the material in place and unwrap the root ball. Prune back any damaged or broken roots with a pair of pruning shears. Lift the tree from the material and place it upright in the center of the new hole. Check to see that the top of the root ball is even with the ground's surface. Never re-plant a tree deeper than it was previously growing.

10

Backfill 1/3 of the hole with soil, tamping it down firmly around the root ball. Repeat this process two additional times until the tree is fully planted. Water the area thoroughly to minimize transplant shock.

11

Cover the transplant site with 1 to 2 inches of mulch, keeping it a few inches away from the trunk. Water the tree deeply every two weeks during the first growing season. Stake the tree during its first year to provide support and keep the tree from rocking in the hole when the wind blows. Even a very small movement will kill the feeder roots the newly transplanted tree is trying to grow.

Things You Will Need

Measuring tape

Shovel

Garden hose

Burlap or tarp

String or twine

Knife

Pruning shears

Warning

Do not fertilize or prune the transplanted dogwood during the first year after transplant.

About the Author

Jessica Westover began writing professionally in 2010. She has worked at various greenhouse production facilities and more recently as a personal banking assistant for Zions Bank. Westover graduated from Brigham Young University Idaho in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in horticulture and a minor in accounting.

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